Read Online Taming Natasha by Nora Roberts - Free Book Online

store and visit me soon?”
    â€œOkay.” Delighted with herself, Freddie raced for the door. “Bye Miss Stanof—Stanif—”
    â€œTash.” She sent Freddie a wink. “All the kids call me Tash.”
    â€œTash.” Freddie grinned at the sound of the name, then streaked away.
    She listened to Freddie’s sneakers squeak down the hall, then tooka long breath. “I’m sorry to disturb you at home, but I felt it would be more…” What was the word? Appropriate, comfortable? “It would be better.”
    â€œAll right.” His eyes were very cool, not like those of the man who had played such sad and passionate music. “Would you like to sit down?”
    â€œNo.” She said it too quickly, then reminded herself that it was better if they were both stiffly polite. “It won’t take long. I only want to apologize.”
    â€œOh? For something specific?”
    Fire blazed in her eyes. He enjoyed seeing it, particularly since he’d spent most of the night cursing her. “When I make a mistake, I make a point of admitting it. But since you behaved so—” Oh, why did she always lose her English when she was angry?
    â€œUnconscionably?” he suggested.
    Her brow shot up into her fall of hair. “So you admit it.”
    â€œI thought you were the one who was here to admit something.” Enjoying himself, he sat on the arm of a wing chair in pale blue damask. “Don’t let me interrupt.”
    She was tempted, very tempted, to turn on her heel and stalk out. Pride was equally as strong as temper. She would do what she had come to do, then forget it.
    â€œWhat I said about you—about you and your daughter was unfair and untrue. Even when I was…mistaken about other things, I knew it was untrue. And I’m very sorry I said it.”
    â€œI can see that.” Out of the corner of his eye he caught a movement. He turned his head in time to see Freddie make her sprinter’s rush for the swings. “We’ll forget it.”
    Natasha followed his gaze and softened. “She really is a beautiful child. I hope you let her come into the shop from time to time.”
    The tone of her voice had him studying Natasha more carefully. Was it longing, sorrow? “I doubt I could keep her away. You’re very fond of children.”
    Natasha brought her emotions under control with a quick jerk. “Yes, of course. In my business it’s a requirement. I won’t keep you, Dr. Kimball.”
    He rose to accept the hand she had formally held out. “Spence,” he corrected, gently tightening his fingers on hers. “What else was it you were mistaken about?”
    So it wasn’t going to be easy. Then again, Natasha thought she deserved a dose of humiliation. “I thought you were married, and was very angry and insulted when you asked me out.”
    â€œYou’re taking my word now that I’m not married.”
    â€œNo. I looked it up in the library in Who’s Who .”
    He stared at her for a moment longer, then threw back his head and laughed. “God, what a trusting soul. Find anything else that interested you?”
    â€œOnly things that would fill your ego. You still have my hand.”
    â€œI know. Tell me, Natasha, did you dislike me on general principles, or only because you thought I was a married man and had no business flirting with you?”
    â€œFlirting?” She nearly choked on the word. “There was nothing so innocent in the way you looked at me. As if…”
    â€œAs if—?” he prompted.
    As if we were already lovers, she thought, and felt her skin heat. “I didn’t like it,” she said shortly.
    â€œBecause you thought I was married?”
    â€œYes. No,” she said, correcting herself when she realized where thatcould lead. “I just didn’t like it.” He brought her hand to his lips. “Don’t,”